Match M53 paired two accomplished group-stage qualifiers in a direct-elimination test. E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic entered as the undefeated 3-0 champion of Group E. Plasencia Alma Fuerte Eduardo I arrived at 2-1 after placing second in Group H behind Davidoff Millennium.
The matchup contrasted a medium-full, 5 3/8 x 52 Majestic Robusto made in the Dominican Republic with a full, 6 1/4 x 54 box-pressed Nicaraguan Toro. Encore used Nicaraguan wrapper, binder and filler. Eduardo I also used an all-Nicaraguan blend, led by a Jalapa wrapper and filler from Estelí, Condega, Jalapa and Ometepe.
Construction and flavor complexity tied at perfect 5.0 scores. Encore gained half a point apiece in draw, burn and balance; Eduardo I recovered half a point with a perfect finish. That exchange left Encore ahead 29.5 to 28.5 and advanced the Group E champion to the Grand 8.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic | Plasencia Alma Fuerte Eduardo I |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Casa Carrillo | Plasencia |
| Origin | Dominican Republic | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan Jalapa |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Estelí, Condega, Jalapa and Ometepe |
| Factory | Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. | Plasencia Cigar Factory |
| Vitola | Majestic Robusto, 5 3/8 x 52 | Box-Pressed Toro, 6 1/4 x 54 |
| Strength | Medium-Full | Full |
| Ashology score | 29.5/30 - Exceptional | 28.5/30 - Elite |
| M53 result | Winner - advanced to Grand 8 | Loss - Top 16 finisher |
Encore began with sweet cedar, raisin, cocoa and baking spice on the cold draw. Cedar, cinnamon and natural tobacco sweetness led the opening as cocoa and pepper developed. Caramel, roasted nuts, coffee and dried fruit formed a balanced center before espresso, oak and baking spice grew richer while the sweetness remained intact.
Eduardo I opened from a cold draw of cocoa, cedar, pepper and dark sweetness. Dark chocolate, earth and black pepper produced a rich, creamy first third. Espresso, leather, molasses and roasted nuts added substantial depth before oak, coffee and pepper intensified over a continuing layer of cocoa.
Both cigars shared cocoa, coffee, nuts, oak, pepper and sweetness, but they reached those flavors differently. Encore felt brighter and more composed through cedar, raisin, cinnamon, caramel and dried fruit. Eduardo I was darker and more forceful, building its identity around earth, black pepper, dark chocolate, leather and molasses.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Construction tied 5.0 to 5.0. Encore delivered an excellent draw, steady burn and firm ash, while Eduardo I combined controlled airflow with excellent smoke production and steady combustion. Flavor complexity also tied at 5.0 because both cigars produced layered transitions without losing their central profiles.
Encore won three categories; Eduardo I won one; two categories tied.
Draw and burn created Encore's first full point of separation. It won both categories 5.0 to 4.5, pairing effortless airflow with flawless combustion. Eduardo I remained Outstanding in both, but two technical half-point deficits gave Encore control of the scorecard.
Balance added another half point, 5.0 to 4.5. Encore integrated cedar, cinnamon, cocoa, pepper, caramel, nuts, coffee, fruit, espresso and oak into a polished progression. Eduardo I remained cohesive despite greater power, but Encore's perfect integration established a 1.5-point lead before the final category.
Eduardo I answered by winning finish 5.0 to 4.5. Its long, powerful and darkly sweet close edged Encore's long, sweetly spiced and refined finish. That half point tightened the result, but it could not erase the three earlier advantages Encore had built through technical control and balance.
Official Result: E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic Wins Match M53
E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic defeated Plasencia Alma Fuerte Eduardo I 29.5 to 28.5 and advanced to the Grand 8. The victory improved Encore to 4-0 and created Match M59 against Davidoff Millennium.
Encore later defeated Davidoff, reached the Final Smokeout and finished #4 overall with a 5-2 tournament record. Its Exceptional 29.5 evaluation and five perfect categories established it as one of the most complete cigars in the 2026 field. Eduardo I finished 2-2 as an Elite Top 16 finisher.
Final Ashology Verdict
Eduardo I delivered the stronger final impression. Its cocoa, earth, dark chocolate, espresso, leather, molasses, roasted nuts, oak and pepper culminated in a perfect finish that recovered half a point.
Encore won because it was more precise before that close. Perfect draw, burn and balance supplied three half-point advantages while construction and complexity remained tied. Eduardo I closed better; Encore controlled more of the complete scorecard. Five perfect categories ultimately produced a clear one-point Top 16 victory.
Tasting notes reflect the cigars and vitolas evaluated during the 2026 competition. Flavor, strength and burn performance may vary based on storage, age, vitola and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.